The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lowered its final 2018 U.S. corn and soybean production estimates last week in its annual crop production report, which was among a slew of reports released on Feb. 8 after being delayed by the partial government shutdown. 

The USDA estimates 2018 U.S. corn production at 14.42 billion bushels, down from the November estimate of 14.626 billion bushels. The national yield average was 176.4 bushels per acre, down slightly from the year before and 2.5 bushels below the November estimate....